Global Showbiz Briefs: The Netherlands, New Zealand, Mexico, UK

3D Conversion Of Paramount’s ‘Top Gun’ In The WorksAnother blockbuster is getting the 3D conversion treatment, it seems. Top Gun, Tony Scott’s iconic 1986 film starring Tom Cruise, is being re-formatted for a possible 2012 release by Paramount. That was the word from Legend3D CEO Rob Hummel, speaking today at the International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam, where he presented a 4-minute clip in the new format. “I think Top Gun lends itself to 3D due to the aerial flight,” Hummel said. “You can have fun with 3D by bringing things off the screen if they are not attached to the edge of the screen.” Hummel said that the studio wanted to get Scott’s approval before proceeding, while Paramount said there had been no talk of a release date. If the redo of the blockbuster does materialize, it will be on top of 3D conversions of The Lion King, set for release later this month, Star Wars: The Phantom MenaceandTitanic.

Vicki Jackways To Represent New Zealand In Hollywood New Zealand is reaching out to Hollywood in a bid to lure more film shoots and facilitate U.S. co-productions. Film New Zealand and Park Road Post Production are teaming on an initiative that will see Park Road’s marketing chief Vicki Jackways working to heighten New Zealand’s Hollywood presence next year when she comes to L.A. in a semi-permanent capacity. New Zealand is on Hollywood’s location map and has an established effects and post-production infrastructure. It famously served as Middle Earth for The Lord of the Rings trilogy. “Thanks to the talents and entrepreneurship of our screen industry across the country, and the backing of successive governments, New Zealand has built a remarkable reputation as a film-making culture. Los Angeles-based representation is an important next step in taking full advantage of this reputation.”

Netflix CEO: Two Years Until We See Profit In MexicoNetflix CEO Reed Hastings estimated today that it will take two years before his firm sees any returns from Mexico. “We are going to lose money for a while … it will take a lot of subscribers to get to profitability,” he said at a Mexico City news conference to mark the launch, part of a previously announced Latin American expansion. He declined to say how many subscribers it would take to get into the black but expressed confidence that the bandwidth commonly available in Mexico, markedly lower than that common to the U.S., would be viable. Netflix will charge $8 for a monthly subscription in Mexico. Local broadcasters TV Azteca and will make some of their content available through Netflix in Mexico, he said.

France Tops Selections For European Film AwardsFrance led the way as 45 films which will compete for the European Film Awards were unveiled today. French films garnered 11 nominations (8 co-productions) including The Artist, Tomboy and The Kid With A Bike. Thirty-two countries were represented on the long list, which is chosen by the 20 countries with the most European Film Academy members, which each vote one film onto the list. The other entries are selected by a panel of board members and experts. EFA members will vote for their selections and the final nominations will be announced on November 5 at the Seville European Film Festival. The awards will be presented in Berlin on December 3. The EFA listed all the nominees on its web site.

Stephen Fry To Return As Host Of The BAFTA AwardsHe will take back the mike for the February 12, 2012, event from Jonathan Ross, who has hosted the awards for the last five years. Fry first hosted the ceremony in 2001 and continued until 2006 when Ross took over. BAFTA CEO Amanda Berry said she was thrilled to have Fry back. “Stephen’s love of cinema, his keen sense of fun and his characteristic panache will be a huge draw.”